Stationary grip attachment for spinning socket wrenches



Aug. 8, 1950 G. J. HOUSTON 2,517,878

STATIONARY GRIP-ATTACHMENT FOR SPINNING SOCKET-WRENCHES Filed July 19. 1948 ATTEI R N EYS Patented Aug. 8, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I STATIONARY GRIP ATTACHMENT FOR SPINNING SOCKET WRENCHES George J. Houston, Scranton, Pa. Application July 19, 1948, Serial No. 39,483 1 Claim. (Cl. 81177) This invention relates to a holder for a socket wrench of the type having a plurality of sockets on arms in the form of a cross. wherein the wrench is held by one socket with one hand while it is spun around by sockets on laterally disposed arms.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a holder in the form of a top that is adapted to hold the wrench from one point without being rigidly connected to the wrench.

Socket wrenches of this type are used to tighten and loosen nuts or cap screws of motor vehicle wheels when repairing tires, and after the nut or screw is loose, the wrench is spun to continue the unscrewing movement. With the usual type of wrench, it is difiicult to hold the outer end or socket as the wrench is spun. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a cap or holder adapted to cover the socket with a point that fits into the socket, wherein the socket may be held by a hand without direct contact between the hand and wrench.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a holder or stationary grip attachment for socket wrenches, having arms in the form of a cross, wherein the wrench may readily be held as it i spun to tighten or loosen a nut or screw.

Another object of this invention is to provide a holder or stationar grip attachment for socket wrenches having laterally disposed arms, that is adapted to be used on wrenches and sockets of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder, adapted to be installed on the end of a wrench having laterally disposed arms, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the new and useful combination, construction, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the claim appended hereto, and disclosed in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a motor vehicle wheel and shows a wrench having the holder or stationary grip attachment on one of the sockets thereon positioned on one of the bolts thereof.

Figure 2 is a view showing an end elevation of the wheel, with the wrench and holder positioned on one of the bolts thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevational view looking into the open end of the holder or stationary grip attachment.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the holder taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the point of the holder in a socket of a wrench, the end of which is also shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the holder of this invention includes a tubular casing l0, having a head I I, with a point I2 permanently mounted in the head.

The casing If] is comparatively small, being adapted to be held comfortably in ones hand, and the head I I may be welded to one end of the casing, or ma be formed of material such as babbit that may be cast in the end of the casing, with a base is of the point I2 cast therein. lhe base of the point may also be welded in the head, or secured therein in any manner or by any means.

With the parts arranged'in this manner, the holder may be positioned on a socket M of a wrench l5, and with the wrench positioned over the head of a cap screw 56, the wrench may be spun about the center by the laterally disposed arms H, and with the socket i l positioned in the holder Hi, the outer end of the wrench may be held in alignment without attempting to hold the revolving socket or arm of the wrench directly in the hand.

It will be understood that the holder or stationary grip attachment may be made of metal, plastic, or any suitable material.

It will also be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A hearing and grip device for cross-arm type Wrenches having outwardly disposed lug-engaging sockets on the ends of the arms and said sockets having depressed bottom portions; said I pointed end to said head member, the pointed end of said rod being engageable with the depressed bottom portion of each of said sockets to thereby hold said tubular casing in surrounding and spaced relation to the socket in which the point is positioned, and thereb form a bearing for said wrench when an opposite socket is applied to a bolt head and said wrench is spun about an axis extended through the socket in which the point is positioned, and said opposite socket, said casing forming a stationary grip for said socket in which the point is positioned, during such spinning movement of the wrench.

GEORGE J. HOUSTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 465,688 Wicks Dec. 22, 1891 1,314,012 Mowers Aug. 26, 1919 2,282,743 Pervier May 12, 1942 2,341,375 Hambleton .d Feb. 8, 1944; 

